How to Use Mobile Infrared

Infrared used to be a widely used technology before the rise of Bluetooth. Yet even today in 2010, some users still prefer the use of infrared. Infrared is a technology that allows you to send files and other data to cell phones or computers. Both devices need to have infrared capabilities to send and transfer data. And for it to work, both devices need to face each other to transmit and receive the signal. While the process is a bit slower than Bluetooth, infrared still does the job effectively.

Using a Computer

Setup an infrared connection. If you're doing this by computer, you first need to setup an infrared connection. Go to Start > Control Panel >System Maintenance > Device Manager. Enter in your administration password if prompted. You should see "Infrared devices," double-click this option then right-click and select "Enable." Before exiting out, be sure you have this option checked, "Allow others to send files to my computer using infrared communications."

Send a file or folder to your computer. Do this by making sure your mobile phone and computer are facing one another, to where the infrared ports are directly in front of each other. Wait a few moments for the infrared icon to appear on your computer.

Double-click the infrared icon. Choose whichever file you want to transfer and select "Send." To receive the file onto the computer, wait until you are asked whether you want to receive or reject the file. Click "Accept" and the file will be sent to your computer.

Transferring Files With Cell Phones

Align the phones. Both infrared ports need to face each other.

Select the file you want to transfer. From the menu select "Beam" or "Transfer File" depending on the model of your phone.

Accept the file. Choose where to save the file and wait until the transfer is complete.